Insight | Apr 2003 | Vol 5 | Issue 6

In the wake of the recent developments that have happened in the institute, my article might appear to be sarcastic and cynical. But let me assure you, it is definitely not the case. I simply love IIT Bombay! I love the discipline here, the organisation, the structure and the rules that come with it. Everything is so perfect and in place.

Take for instance the 730 rule. The basic logic behind this rule, I presume, is something like this. There is an unequal ratio of boys to girls in the campus. Therefore, only a lucky few can interact with the girls. This is unfair to all those who do not. And therefore, all such interaction should be discouraged. How? Simple... enforce the 730 rule. The rule says that members of opposite sex are not allowed in the hostel premises after 730 pm. And I guess there is a deeper philosophy to this rule than just curbing interaction. Let me explain. The rule, given its timings, ensures that there is no chance left for the boys and girls to study together. The boys, however, being large in number manage group studies. It is the girls (who sometimes are only one or two in the entire class) who get affected. They have to do their assignments, projects and submissions alone. Thus, they become more independent and are able to face the world alone. The rule strives to build a 'strong Indian woman' who is independent and ... words fail me.

And even if you do manage to beat the 730 rule and to get into the girl's (or boy's) hostel, there is more in store for you - the 45 degree rule. Your friend cannot shut the door because the door has to be kept open at an angle of 45 degrees. (I love geometry). And beware! Don't get too casual to lift your feet off the ground. The moment you do that, you may feel the earth slip away from beneath your feet ;-). The rule says that at all points of time, both your feet must be placed on the floor. This rule sure teaches your to be firm in life and gives you strength and character. (Now don't get ideas!)

And do you know about the 'Bike rule'? Yeah, no students residing in the hostels are allowed to own bikes in the campus. By banning bikes, the authorities will reduce as many as 10% of the total number of vehicles on the campus! Earlier people in the campus used to choke because of the pollution (?) in this green campus. But with the banning of 400 odd two-wheelers, the pollution levels will be brought down substantially. Also, there will be a decrease in 'accidents' and 'accidents of old people'.

There are a few friends of mine who do not like the rule. They feel handicapped without a bike and have no means of transport for going out to eat at nights or in case of an emergency like an accident. Well, for the former crib I would like to quote one of the faculty members - "Why do you need a 5th meal when IIT provides you 4!". And in case of accidents, you have the very reliable and dependable medical facilities of our very own IIT Hospital. My friends asked me why then is institute spending money on sign-boards that read 'Speed Limit of 30 Kmph'? I tried to explain to them that the boards were meant for the cyclists and leopards in the campus and not bikers!

IIT Bombay strives to develop that civic road sense in all of us. Why else would the watchmen at the Main Gate and Y-point yell at you to walk on the footpaths? And once the bikes are banned, the roads can be used by the cows and dogs that inhabit the campus. There is a separate 3-feet gate for the pedestrians adjacent to the 30-feet gate meant for vehicles. You learn to squeeze yourself through it and thus learn to adjust yourself to the crowd that you encounter in local trains and the VT area. And if that wasn't enough, the cyclists are supposed to get off their cycles and walk through the pedestrian gate!

The new SAC rule that does not allow students in the Gymkhana grounds is the best! 100 m of the track is reserved for the athletes to practice and remaining 300 m of the track is faculty. I wish they divide the roads too with one-fourth for the bright students and three-fourths for the faculty. The dull need not come to class as it is anyways futile.

I shall not discuss the PAF rules. PAF is atrocity on the juniors and all measures need to be taken to kill this cultural activity. And I am glad the authorities did it. Some people feel that PAFs are the pride of our cult-scene and the only event unique to IIT Bombay. I tell them that when every other college and IIT is smart enough to figure out that PAFs should not be done, why is IITB still adamant on doing it? Kill PAF!

Academics come first for IIT Bombay. And I love the way it spares no one when it comes to implementing academic rules. For instance, what better rule than charging students huge amounts of money for every copy of grade sheet that they need for apping? And what better way than making students pay fines as huge as Rs. 1000 per day for every day of delay in submission of your BTP report? I am also told that a similar rule (with Rs. 500 fine) is coming up for the seminars. I wish they also make the freshies pay Rs. 50 for late submission of assignment and Rs. 100 for missing a tutorial!

IIT Bombay rocks! No, no.. it rulez. Long live IIT Bombay.

Zishaan M. Hayath is a third year dual degree student in the dept of Civil Engg. He can be contacted at zishaan [at] iitb.ac.in.